Outdoor living: design ideas for your rural retreat

Your rural home is the place where you escape from the hustle and bustle of the city; design your outdoor living spaces to reflect that.

After all, it’s the place you go to relax and switch off when you need some time alone. It makes sense that you want to make your rural home as comfortable as possible while still keeping its rustic charm.

When you live in the spacious rural Perth hills, there are endless options and space to create your perfect sanctuary, whether it’s an outdoor entertaining space for hosting friends and family or a cosy retreat for you to enjoy an escape from everyday life.

The elements that make an elevated outdoor living environment

We all know that a big part of being able to relax comes from having an outdoor living space that is not only beautiful but also relaxing. And in order to achieve this, we have come up with some design ideas that will help you elevate your outdoor living space while staying true to its rustic nature.

Let’s take a look at 5 ways you can create an elevated outdoor living space in your rural home.

Find the perfect position for your home on your block

When planning your dream home, there’s plenty to consider in terms of positioning and outdoor living.

As with any design project, you need to first understand the constraints of your space.

In this case, you want to make sure that you find the perfect position for your home on the block. An important aspect of this is the amount of sunlight you’ll get. You’ll want to make sure that your home gets plenty of sunlight in the afternoon to create a cosy and warm environment.

This is particularly important if you are in an area that gets a lot of rain. Your outdoor living space will be a great place for you to be able to relax and enjoy the company of friends and family despite the weather. For example, a morning coffee with your partner on the front verandah or sunset drinks with visiting friends in your rear alfresco.

Another thing to consider is the amount of privacy you have.

If you don’t have much privacy, you’ll need to carefully plan your outdoor living space to make sure that it is private enough for you and your guests to feel comfortable.

What will you require in terms of fencing? This is especially important if you anticipate having a pool on the property.

What will the centrepiece of your outdoor space look like?

Is it a firepit or maybe a pergola with outdoor seating, a pool or an outdoor kitchen? Allocation for spaces during this stage can ensure your vision comes to life. Many of the features you envision may require pre-planning and consideration during the design phase.

Create an outdoor kitchen in your alfresco

One of the most important aspects of your outdoor living space is where you will enjoy meals with your loved ones.

This is where you and your friends will be able to make wonderful memories, enjoy endless conversation, and perhaps even cook together while overlooking your beautiful rural property.

Consider the orientation of your house on your block so that you can truly make the most of sunset views, as well as much-needed shade during the summer months.

The benefits of an outdoor kitchen

Looking to host your friends and family? With an outdoor kitchen area, you could do so much more. Your outdoor kitchen can be as large or small as you desire.

It can feature an outdoor sink and a small fridge, or it can be a fully stocked and fully equipped kitchen with all the bells and whistles. Regardless of the size of your kitchen, it is important to have enough counter space so that you and your guests can prep and cook food easily and efficiently.

You could also consider using an outdoor grill and a hot plate.

This will allow you to still be able to grill your food while enjoying the fresh air outside. Incorporate food preparation areas as well as plenty of seating areas to create a memorable space.

If you intend to host barbecues in your backyard or alfresco, we highly recommend having a gas point added to your floor plan during the home design process so that it’s ready to go when you move into your new place.

Incorporate a fire pit for cosy nights

We all love sitting around the fire pit and roasting marshmallows with our friends and family.

And with a rural home, you can have a fire pit right next to your outdoor kitchen. An outdoor fire pit is a great place to sit and enjoy the company of your friends and family while sipping on a warm cup of coffee or tea.

There’s nothing quite like the camaraderie of sharing a toasty fire with a group of loved ones, relishing the opportunity to sit outside in the fresh, crisp night air.

Outdoor living in the winter months; joyful all year round

Perfect for winter months and can be combined with a conversation pit style setting. Many areas up in Perth’s hills or WA’s regional areas can get very cold at night, so a warm setting like this could be ideal.

Live the Australian dream with a pool

The value in adding a swimming pool to your property

If you have the space to include a swimming pool in your outdoor living space, then you should definitely do it! Swimming is great exercise and it is also a great way to relax and unwind – one of the main reasons people opt to take up a rural lifestyle.

If you have children, chances are the swimming pool will also be used for endless other activities, such as water volleyball, Marco Polo, diving, and floating whilst watching the world go by. In addition to being great for relaxation, a swimming pool can also be used to add some aesthetic appeal and financial value to your property.

Defining a space for your outdoor pool

If you have a swimming pool, consider creating plenty of space around it with glass fencing to keep the area feeling beautiful and open. You’ll want to factor in the shape and size of your pool in addition to noting potential access points and seating areas.

You can add some lounge chairs in a resort-style area near the pool so that you and your guests can relax while looking out at the beautiful garden view across your property.

Placement and flow of your pool area

If you plan to live out this iconic Australian dream, you will best achieve it by planning the flow between the main house and your pool area, which will most likely be connected to your alfresco via paving or a timber deck.

If you would like shaded areas over your pool, consider which side and orientation you put your pool in; and whether trees overhead will impact the amount of maintenance involved in looking after your pool. These shaded spaces can potentially double as entertaining areas, so additional seating and paved sections may be required.

Frame it all with native-inspired landscaping

Using landscaping to define gardens and outdoor living areas

How would you like the flora to frame your property? If you are looking to create a rustic yet modern feel to your outdoor living space which complements the country lifestyle, you could consider framing your space with native-inspired landscaping.

Looking after your native plants and landscaping

Native plants thrive in areas that don’t get a lot of rain. They are small plants that don’t require a lot of maintenance and don’t require a lot of water. If you are in an area that doesn’t get a lot of rain, then native landscaping could be a great design choice.

It will allow you to surround your outdoor living space with plenty of vibrant, green plants that will look gorgeous all year round.

Planning ahead for your native landscaped garden

The earlier you can plan your big landscaping ideas, the better. For example, if you’re looking for a particular effect such as a tree-lined driveway, orchard, or raised vegetable garden beds, allocating space for these items will give you the greatest level of foresight for planning how your home’s elevation sits amongst its natural surroundings.

Will you need any trees removed or added? Creating a general plan for your outdoor areas ahead of time is essential for achieving the most seamless connection to your home.

Conclusion

When it comes to designing your outdoor areas, it is important to stay true to the needs of your household.

It sounds simple, but don’t focus on creating a manicured rose garden if your priority is open space for young children to run around. Instead, allow your design to come naturally while still incorporating the style and features of your rural home.

We hope that these 5 ways to make your outdoor living space awesome have helped you to understand how you can elevate your rural home’s outdoor living space. From creating an outdoor kitchen to framing your space with native-inspired landscaping, there are plenty of ways for you to create a truly beautiful outdoor living space that will spark joy for many years.

How to begin creating your new lifestyle amongst lush outdoor spaces

We can help you build your perfect outdoor space and help you consider options you may not have thought of. Each Benlin home is a unique work of art. Let us help you make your own perfect outdoor living space.